Ocotillo Plant
How is ocotillo used by humans?
The Flower
The flowers of the ocotillo are a bright red, giving it the nickname “little torch." The ocotillos flowers have evolved to feed hummingbirds, which helps encourage their continued pollination. The flower of the ocotillo has been eaten raw, soaked in water as a drink, and for medicinal purposes.
The Stem
The stem of the ocotillo has large, sharp spines. After rain, these spines are the site of leaf growth. The stem also makes ocotillo an excellent material for fencing, which is documented to have been used by the Kumeyaay. Ocotillo can be transplanted live from one place to another. Assuming the ocotillo catches, a fence like this would also bloom green leaves and red flowers after a rainy season.